Info pack RSM

Finally got around to browse through the info pack I received from RSM. Besides some goodies and hard copy versions of the RSM brochures, there was a magazine (RSM Outlook), which gave an insight into life during and after a MBA at RSM. The most interesting one however, was a booklet with faces, names, etc from the current EMBA08 class. The group is really international and with no specific focus on a certain business domain.

I was also made painfully aware that I should re-submit my passport size pictures as every male student in the EMBA08 booklet is wearing a suit and tie

Booking early at a nearby hotel for the first week also seems to be a good idea. By now the EMBA09 todo list looks like:

• Re-submit passport size picture (suit and tie)
• Book nearby hotel for the first week
• Get laptop (Apple MBP/IBM Thinkpad T61p)

Confirmed entry into RSM EMBA09

Received a formal confirmation of RSM today that I have been accepted … meaning all funds have been transferred and the necessary documents have been signed and co-signed (admission and exit agreements). I am relieved that this process is over as it was taking too much time out of my daily work-schedule.

The long wait has started, the EMBA09 will officially kick-off on the 12th of Jan. 2008.

RSM application submitted

I finally submitted all the required documents to complete the admission process at RSM for the EMBA09 program. The admission procedure was completed in a months time, doing tests, writing essays (3), compiling needed documents (degrees, etc), getting signatures, referee letters and of course the interview.

The decision to do an MBA was on my mind for a while, I decided to apply this year in a now-or-never effort as a window of opportunity presented itself. Having pondered on this for a while already meant that I had a good idea of what I wanted from my MBA. Among the usual suspects concerning MBA’s in the Netherlands, the EMBA at Rotterdam Erasmus University’s RSM (Rotterdam School of Management) fitted my requirements the closest. The program is roughly concentrated around the following themes/topics over a period of two years:

Foundations of Management
- Managerial Economics
- Organisational Behaviour
- Business Methods
- Management Science
- Management Information Systems
Practice of Management
- Strategic Management
- Operations Management
- Personal Leadership Capability
Application and Exploration
- In-Company Project
Foundations of Leadership
- Change Management
- Advanced Business Strategy and Competitive Dynamics
- Advanced Finance
- Practice of Leadership
Negotiating & Contracting
- Leadership
- International Investment Management
- Entrepreneurship and Corporate Intrapreneurship 
- International Elective
International Immersion 

Welcome to … another MBA blog.

Another one trying to maintain a blog on combining studies and work. This one however will be slightly different as I am partaking in a part time Executive MBA program in the Netherlands. This combination to my knowledge is rather scarse in the EMBA blogging ’scene’

Whoami? My professional profile would spell out ‘technology’ on a first glance. There is more however than meets the eye, although technology is a central theme, most of my dealings and interactions are with the business in terms of process redesign, control/compliance and implementing/supporting new investment products/instruments. I have 12+ years experience in the financial industry, mainly with insurances, (investment) banks and pension funds. My career has been the traditional one from programmer to management.

Currently I work as an Enterprise Architect (VP) in support of the CIO within the investment and pensions industry, my focus is on enabling business with architecture were it adds value (strategic and tactical alignment). Recent topics within investments were Ext./Int. STP, Algo Trading, CEP, Control/Compliance, exotic instrument support, trading/settlement support, data ware housing, reference data management (static- and market data), etc. Within pensions a complete refactoring of business and IT is underway to meet the demands of new markets and schemes.

I opted for the EMBA program for many reasons, first to deepen my knowledge on corporate finance and investment management, second, to reach a higher playing field in developing business strategies in fast changing markets and thirdly, to be able to choose another career path i.e. from a technology to a more business orientation.

For the moment my job as enterprise architect still gives me the freedom to help develop business in a sustainable way by leveraging technologies and business (core) operating models to meet the strategic intentions, both on the investments as pensions side of the corporation.

This blog will serve as earmark to collect my thoughts on the future in terms of career, education, family/work and “stuff”. I will do my best effort to maintain this blog while I am at RSM for my EMBA. Some important links to start:

• http://www.rsm.nl
• http://www.rotterdam.nl